Can these be modules?
 

I need to modify fs/open.c and fs/read_write.c to make my modifications. I cannot find any options in 'make menuconfig' to make these files modules rather than compiled elements. I'm thinking these cannot be modules because the file system won't work without open.c and read_write.c.

Is this correct - I cannot compile fs/open.c and fs/read_write.c as modules, only as compiled elements? Or, is there some way for a module to overwrite these routines when the module is installed and re-enable the routines when the module is removed?

This topic should probably be moved into the Kernel forum so it get's the expert attention it deserves, but my first inclination would be that those cannot be broken out into modules.

Yes, that is correct. They can not be broken out and loaded as modules. They are part of the general file system; they are used to open, read, and write files, just like they are named.

Thanks.

It doesn't take too long to recompile if I only change these routines. That's the way I will go.